SOUTH PACIFIC Opens At The Ahmanson Theatre 6/2

A luscious new production of one of Broadway's most endearing musicals, the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific," opens next Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, and runs through July 17, 2010.

Directed by Tony Award ®-winner Bartlett Sher, this production Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific," is the first Broadway revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical since its 1949 premiere, and swept the 2007-2008 theatre awards, winning seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards for Best Musical Revival.

Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Tales of the South Pacific," Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific" has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

Critics in every city have expressed high praise for the production:
"Electric! This is the ‘South Pacific' we've been waiting for," San Francisco Chronicle; "It is a tribute to the sublime beauty of this musical, filled with gorgeous voices and astonishing emotional depth," Chicago Sun-Times; "Bartlett Sher's staging of ‘South Pacific' reveals, intensifies and clarifies the work of Rodgers & Hammerstein," Seattle Times; "Superbly sung and powerfully acted, the touring cast of the magnificent Lincoln Center Theater restoration of ‘South Pacific' is the equal of the New York team," Houston Chronicle.

Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples - U.S. Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque, and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a young local native girl, Liat, and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of the war and by their own prejudices.

The new production features a cast of 34, musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), costumes by Catherine Zuber (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), lighting by Donald Holder (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), sound by Scott Lehrer (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®) and music direction by Ted Sperling. A full orchestra of 26 members - the largest orchestra of any touring Broadway production - will perform the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett (winner of a Special 2008 Tony Award®) and dance and incidental music arranged by Trude Rittmann.

The national touring company of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific" will be led by opera notables Rod Gilfry (May 27- June 20) and David Pittsinger (June 22- July 17) who share the role of Emile de Becque, and Carmen Cusack (Nellie Forbush), with Anderson Davis (Lt. Cable), Matthew Saldivar (Luther Billis), Keala Settle (Bloody Mary), Gerry Becker (Capt. Brackett), Peter Rini (Cmdr. Harbison), Sumie Maeda (Liat), Rusty Ross (Professor), original 2008 Broadway cast member Genson Blimline (Stewpot), Christina Carrera (Ngana) and CJ Palma (Jerome).

The ensemble includes Eric L. Christian (from the Broadway production), Jacqueline Colmer, Jeremy Davis, Mike Evariste (from the Broadway production), Kate Fahrner, Nicholas Galbraith, Alexis G.B. Holt, Robert Hunt, Chad Jennings, Christopher Johnstone, Kristie Kerwin, Jodi Kimura, Joe Langworth, Cathy Newman, Diane Phelan, John Pinto Jr., Travis Robertson, Josh Rouah, Kristen J. Smith, Matt Stokes, Gregory Williams and Victor Wisehart.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific" premiered at the Majestic Theatre On April 7, 1949, and went on to enjoy a five-year Broadway run winning nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and countless other awards. Considered by many to be the finest musical ever written, the score's songs include such musical theatre classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali Ha'i," "There is Nothin' Like A Dame" and "A Wonderful Guy."

Tickets for Rogers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific" are available by calling Center Theatre Group Audience Services at (213) 972-4400, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office located the Ahmanson Theatre or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Hot-Tix, priced at $20, are available and can be purchased in advance, or subject to availability, on the day of performance at the CTG box office (no checks). For the deaf community, call TDD (213) 680-4017 for tickets and information. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling (213) 972-7231.